Leading the Way: 30 WCASD Seniors Honored for Outstanding Service

Thirty West Chester Area School District (WCASD) students were celebrated for their extraordinary commitment to service, leadership, and citizenship at the 27th Annual Spellman Humanitarian Awards, held on Wednesday, April 2. The awards, presented by the West Chester Area Education Association (WCAEA), recognize ten seniors from each of the district’s three high schools, East, Henderson, and Rustin, who embody the spirit of compassion and volunteerism.

Initiated in 1999, the awards honor the legacy of Dr. Elwood M. (Ossie) Spellman, a respected community leader who served as a WCASD School Board member and president from 1951 to 1969. Dr. Spellman was deeply involved in organizations such as the Rotary Club, YMCA, and Boy Scouts, and the award named in his memory continues to spotlight students whose selfless actions strengthen their schools and communities.

Scott deLone, Vice President of the WCAEA shared, “This was my first year being involved with the Spellman Awards and it was truly amazing to see all of the work that our students do outside of the classroom. It was an honor to be part of this storied West Chester tradition.”

Students were selected after completing an application process that detailed their service activities, time commitments, and personal motivations. Many of the students volunteered with local organizations like the Melton Center, Spring Brook Farm, WC Food Cupboard, the SPCA, Jack and Jill of America, and in their own neighborhoods and townships. Others identified needs in the community and developed their own initiatives to create lasting change.

“Spellman Humanitarian Award winners demonstrated outstanding citizenship qualities such as volunteerism, integrity, honesty, respectfulness, and responsibility,” said Kalia Reynolds, WCASD Deputy Superintendent. “We also thank and celebrate their families. You are their first and best teachers and have done an outstanding job parenting these fine students.”

The WCASD and the WCAEA are proud to recognize the following students for their outstanding achievements in volunteering and community service:

• Michelle Chen, East High School 
• Jada Cooper, East High School 
• Nuala Coyle, East High School 
• Sophia Fu, East High School 
• Wesley Hiester, East High School 
• Sneha Mahadevan, East High School 
• Pooja Menon, East High School 
• Devika Nair, East High School 
• Keira O’Flynn, East High School 
• Amelia Piombino, East High School
   
• Peter Kennedy, Henderson High School 
• Madeline Miller, Henderson High School 
• Jayashri Muthukrishnan, Henderson High School 
• Elena Patarcity, Henderson High School 
• Benjamin Pentz, Henderson High School 
• Adam Pontzer, Henderson High School 
• Tara Rameshmanikandan, Henderson High School
• Sophie Rivell, Henderson High School 
• Talia Salome, Henderson High School 
• Ruhi Trasi, Henderson High School
   
• Leah Ambrosine, Rustin High School 
• Victoria D’Ulisse, Rustin High School 
• Macy Fisher, Rustin High School 
• Drew Gaffney, Rustin High School 
• Elina Huang, Rustin High School 
• Diya Lakshmanan, Rustin High School 
• Henry Matonis, Rustin High School 
• Emily Miller, Rustin High School 
• Diana Munoz-Lopez, Rustin High School 
• Emma Skinner, Rustin High School

To learn more about the Spellman Humanitarian Awards and this year’s recipients, visit https://www.wcasd.net/families-students/spellman-humanitarian-awards.